Crime in the countries of the European Union – taxonomic analysis

Purpose: This article aims to evaluate the variation in crime levels among European Union countries in relation to selected socioeconomic indicators.Additionally, the study seeks to examine the impact of these indicators on public safety for the years 2016 and 2023.Design/methodology/approach: The study employed selected descriptive statistics and the TOPSIS method, a technique of multidimensional statistical analysis.The statistical data utilised in this research were obtained from Eurostat.Findings: The results indicated the occurrence of a difference in the crime level.In 2023, residents of Slovenia, Czechia, and Poland (top three places in the ranking) can feel the safest.Seven years earlier, instead of Poland, Germany was in this group.The worst situation in terms of crime level in both years studied was in Latvia. Research limitations/implications:The study utilised indicators available for all EU countries during the surveyed years.A significant limitation was the absence of a comprehensive set of indicators for all member states, necessitating the exclusion of specific data or the inclusion of indicators from earlier years in some cases.Furthermore, as the research was quantitative, future studies could incorporate qualitative methods to facilitate a more detailed analysis of crimerelated issues. Practical implications:The research presented in this paper can serve as a foundation for further analyses to diagnose and predict crime levels.Social implications: The research findings presented in the article may prove useful for evaluating existing outcomes and identifying effective strategies for combating crime.Originality/value: The article contributes to the body of knowledge and advances the discourse on crime prevention and the maintenance of public safety.